Cougar Call
Volume 4, Issue 3. October 2017
Robotics Kickoff
This year’s kickoff day was held at Georgia Perimeter College on September 23rd. The theme for this year’s BEST Robotics competition is Crossfire, where each robot can move cans of “toxic gas”, put out “fires”, and save “someone” from the “fire”. To represent the cans of toxic gas, there are small paint cans with different amounts of golf balls in them to weigh them down. To score points, the robot must move the cans to a specific spot on the field. To represent the fire, there are four different colors of solo cups stacked on top of each other upside down. To put out the fire (knock over the cups) and earn points, each team is supplied with ping pong balls to represent water to launch at the cups. To represent the person that the robots save from the fire, there is a mannequin made from rope and small PVC pipes. To earn points, the robot has to move the mannequin to a specific spot.
At the kickoff, the PAC team also had the opportunity to go to workshops to learn more about how to build our robot. The workshops that some of our team attended included Programming, Electronics, and Mechanical Design and Build Engineering. Each Robotics team has six weeks to finish their robot before the regional competition on November 4th. Wish them luck!
By: Mallory Boyd
Elementary Cheer
The PAC elementary cheer team has participated in several events so far this football season: they have cheered at three elementary football games and two assemblies. This year, there is a total of 13 cheerleaders on the team.
“To prepare for the games,” their coach, Mrs. White, said, “they practice every Monday, and they had cheer camp.”
Mrs. White has been at Piedmont for two years and teaches K3 and K4. Mrs. White says that the most rewarding part of coaching elementary cheer is seeing the little girls’ faces when they do a cheer correctly, and they are proud of themselves.
When asked what the best memories of coaching are, she said, “Watching them perform their dance so well at the homecoming assembly.”
Let’s hope that our elementary cheerleaders can cheer our football players to victory in the remaining games.
By: Mallory Boyd
Is Modern Culture Ruining Childhood?
Another problem is that they can access many things that their parents can’t control with their smartphone. Many things on the internet are not safe for anyone, especially not children. Many places, such as Omegle, a website where you talk to strangers anonymously, can be scary to know that a child is using. Children are naturally curious, and if they are not protected from the dangers of the Internet, something tragic could happen. It’s the parents’ responsibility to determine what the best age is for their child to have a cell phone, but parents should monitor the use of technology and still encourage their child to be creative and fun without it.
By: Mallory Boyd
Senior Buddies
This year the seniors are pairing up with k3, k4, kindergarten, and 1st grade throughout the school year to play and learn together while giving each other gifts, advice, and, more. Mrs. Moore helped organize and pair the seniors with their elementary buddy. To kick off the school year, the seniors arranged a big breakfast before school to get to know their buddy better. During the senior’s free time at school, they play with their buddies or help them with their academics by reading books or assisting them with their homework. The seniors also like to party with their buddies by joining them for their holiday parties and giving each other presents. On days when the preschoolers have a field trip, the seniors can join their buddies by chaperoning and helping out. At the end of the school year, the seniors and their buddy will come together as the preschoolers will help and give advice to the seniors as they will be starting their first year of college.
Homecoming Bonfire
Thursday, September 21st, the cheerleaders and FFA hosted a school-wide bonfire event for Homecoming. Every student at Piedmont and their parents were invited. All coaches, teachers, and faculty were also asked to attend. When Mrs. Tonya Coe (the varsity cheer coach) was asked how she planned and prepared for bonfire, she responded: “The cheerleaders and I decided to do a bonfire in the place of a dance to show support for Homecoming week, the football team’s first region game, and the softball team’s senior night. We then asked FFA to join in on the plans. Coach Vaughn set up the location and handled the fire. Cheer and FFA brought drinks and s’more items. Cheer made a song playlist and bonfire games. It was a blast!”
As Mrs. Coe mentioned, everyone had a great time at the bonfire. Mackensie Johnston (Cheerleader- 10th grade) made the playlist with all of the music for the night. FFA brought cornhole, too. Everyone sat on tailgates, ate, played games, and socialized. Most people came straight from the region softball game to the bonfire. The event began officially at eight o’clock, and it ended at nine-thirty. Mallory Boyd (a 10th grade student) was asked what her favorite part of the bonfire was, and she said, “The food was the best part; I enjoyed cooking it in the fire.” There was great food, wonderful music, and a fantastic atmosphere of school spirit!
By: Kelsey Leach
Homecoming Game
Friday, September 22nd the Cougars played against the Brentwood Eagles for their homecoming game. The Cougars lost 41-7. Mrs. Moore is a new teacher at Piedmont Academy, and she handled the homecoming court festivities. When Mrs. Moore was asked what the hardest part of dealing with homecoming court was, she responded, “The hardest part of dealing with homecoming court was the large numbers for the center of the field. It was a homecoming nightmare.”
The girls on the homecoming court were as follows: Sydney Stroud, Ava Anglin, Gracie Black, Madison Johnson, Madison McCart, Maddie Johnston, Maddie Morton, Alexis Dodson, Emma Kate Edmonds, Grayson Bradley, and Caitlin Young. Grayson Bradley won homecoming queen, and Caitlin Young won Miss Cougar. Also, all of the high school competed in a contest. Each grade made a homecoming banner with the theme, “Let us prey.” The sophomores won. Homecoming was a fun and successful night!
By: Kelsey Leach
Devotion
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. - Psalm 23
I have mentioned before how much I enjoy Francis Chan’s sermons. I watched one sermon of his entitled “Stop Being Afraid and Fearful.” He referred to Psalm 23 many times; I never paid much attention to this chapter of the Bible before this sermon. In the midst of happiness, sadness, grief, rejoicing, or anything in between, God is our peace. He refreshes our souls. He strengthens us in trouble and even the darkest of times. His goodness and love follows us all of our days.
These reminders are listed throughout Psalm 23. This chapter is a great reminder that God never leaves us. Not only does God never leave us, He provides strength, hope, love, support, etc. We serve a God who is so great because He did much more than just sending His Son to die for us. He continues to be peace to us. He is a wonderful Father. Today, God has you safe, and He is here for you no matter what life throws at you everyday!
Paws at a Glance
Varsity Softball @ Jasper County
Start: Mon Oct 02 - 5:00 pm
End: Mon Oct 02 - 6:30 pm
ACT Test
Start: Tue Oct 03
End: Tue Oct 03
School Picture Retakes
Start: Thu Oct 05
End: Thu Oct 05
Varsity Football @Windsor Academy*
Start: Fri Oct 06 - 7:30 pm
End: Fri Oct 06 - 10:00 pm
Fall Holidays
Start: Mon Oct 09
End: Tue Oct 10
Report Cards Issued
Start: Thu Oct 12
End: Thu Oct 12
Varsity Football @ Bethlehem Temple*
Start: Fri Oct 13 - 7:30 pm
End: Fri Oct 13 - 10:00 pm
Annual Grandparents Fall Bazaar
Start: Thu Oct 26 - 12:00 pm
End: Sat Oct 28 - 2:00 pm
By: Savannah Mote